Fabric holding device



A. D. ELLIOTT May 3, 1932.

FABRIC HOLDING DEVI CE Filed Dec. l, 1930 7a2/@nier Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED STATES ALEXANDER D. ELLIOTT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS FABRIC HOLDING DEVICE Application led December 1, 1930. Serial No. 499,189.

The present invention relates to fabric holding devices, and more in particular to clasp mechanisms for holding garments, and the like, in position upon the wearer.

Among the objects ofthe present invention is to provide a novel fabric holding device comprising members adapted to uniformly grip a piece of fabric or material therebetween.

The invention comprehends the idea of providing a clasp mechanism for uniformly gripping a piece of fabric so that the fibers of the fabric or material are evenly stretched or stressed, thus preventing damage to the fabric. The present novel clasp is especially adapted for gripping and holding said matcrials or fabrics, such as ladies stockings, undergarments, or the like, whereby the same may be effectively held in position without fear of damaging the same.

At the present time, clasps of the type herein disclosed are provided with a round or substantially round knob and a securing member adapted to fit over and engage therewith, the material 4being held between these members. That portion of the material fitting over and around the knob is unevenly stretched by the securing means, thus causing uneven stresses in the fiber. Individual strands or fibers become unduly elongated and worn, and break, causing runs or other damage to the fiber.

Itis, therefore, an obj ect of the present invention to provide a clasp mechanism adapted to uniformly grip a piece of material so that the same is evenly held between the members of the mechanism.

In an illustrative embodiment selected to disclose the invention, the gripping members of the clasp are fiat and of substantial width so that each of the strands or fibers of the material engaged by these members, is subjected to a straight longitudinal pull only.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel means for and method of covering the present novel clasp, whereby the metallic part of the clasp will not come into contact with the body of the wearer.

The invention comprehends the idea of providing a supporting fabric for securing the clasp mechanism to the wearer and for covering the rear portion of the mechanism, whereby the parts of the clasp will not come into direct contact with the wearer. In the illustrative embodiment selected to illustrate the invention, one end ofthe supporting fabric is attached to the clasp mechanism while an intermediate portion thereof is folded upon itself to provide a loop engaged by other parts of the mechanism. The clasp mechanism is accordingly efficiently held in position for use, as likewise covered for preventing the wearer from coming into direct contact therewith.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended by the invention, as will later appear, and as are inherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the present novel clasp mechanism, disclosing the same in a closed position and gripping a piece of fabric between the members thereof.

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the embodiment disclosed in Fig. l of the drawings, and showing the gripping member in an open position.

` Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional View of the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings.

Fig. 4l is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the end portionof one of the members of the clasp mechanism, disclosing the man-ner in which the end thereof is fabricated for holding the end of the supporting fabric, as likewise provide means for gripping the fabric inserted between the same and the other member of the clasp mechanism. l

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross sectional view similar to Fig. 4.-, and disclosi-ng in detail the finished rolled end of edge of one of the members of the clasp mechanism.

Referring now more in particular to the drawings, the embodiment selected to illustrate the invention is disclosed as comprising a member 1 adapted to be positioned beneath or on one side of a piece of fabric, and a jaw member 2 adapted to lgrip the piece of fabric and to hold the same in the clasp mechanism.

member 5 and a fabric engaging element.

This member 5 is stamped or otherwisecut from a piece of sheet metal and has a central edge portion bent or rolled to provide a hinge element 7 adapted to fit .betweenthe hinge elements'3 and 4: of the member 1. This member 'is further provided with an elongatedprojecting tongue 8, on either side of which, the edge of the member is bent or rolled to provide the hinge elements 9 and 10 adapted to receive portions of the fabric engaging element 6. This garment engaging member or element 6 is formed from wire and isl bent to provide the outer nose portion 11, the ends of this piece of wire engaging'in the hingeelements 9 and 10of the vmember 5. The member 5 'and the memberl are secured together by a pintle member 12' adapted to pass through the hinge elements 3 and l of the member 1, and the hinge element 7V of member 5. This pintle member`12has its ends bent toward the rear of the member 1 and into a position substantially parallel to the hinge mechanism, for a purpose to" be later more fully described.

' In order to connect, the VAclasp las ` mechanism tothe wearer, a piece of supporting'fabric v13 is provided and mayfhaveV its free end4 secured to ai belt, undergarment, or other similar clothing, the other end thereof being secured orzattached to the rclasp mechanism.V `This supporting fabric is connected'to the. clasp mechanism in such a manner as to' entirely cover therear portion'thereofandto prevent anypart of the mechanism from coming into contact with the wearer.

Insecuring this fabric to the claspmechanism, the outerend of the member lispartially bent, as shown in F ig. 4 Aof the drawings, andthe end ofthe supporting fabric 13 foldedthereover. This outer end of the member 1 is then pressed so that the end is inea plane substantially parallel .to the .planefof theA member. The end of Vthe fabric 13;F is Vsecurely4 held between vthis folded edge and the main portion ofthe member Y1. After'the fabric 13 has been secured in this manner, the `end portion ofthe member l isfagain partially folded/into a position as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, to provide an edge 14: adapted to receive the nose portion 11 of the fabric engaging element 6. The other end of the supporting fabric '13 pre- 'M vious to the connecting of the sametothe The jaw member -2^comprises lainifablekyreadily seenffioini'thisfconstruction that the entirerearportion of the clasp mechanism is 'covered 'so'asto protect the wearer from coming into direct contact with the various parts of this mechanism.

- As' clearly shown 'in-the' drawings;v afirpiece of fabric, suchV as .19 4ma'yfbes-placedoventhe member 1 andthe nose piece-11fmovedin the direction of the space `betw'eenthe edge v14 and the mainpart of the memberl. -Thenose portion 11 of thefabric engaging member 6 may then be moved into' its' most forward position bypressing on* the tongue'B offfthe member 5, whereby the jaw of the clasp mechanism is loclredin-an engaging. position,`"as clearly' shownin Fig.' 3'of the'drawings.

The jaw is l'locked infits'engaging position during the final movement of' the "tongue member 8 into thepositionsh'ownJinfFig.' 3 of the drawings. During this'inall movement of the tongue member 8,"t'hehinge connection between the lmembers 5 and 6 moves `inwardly toward the" member 1 andput of 'alignment withV a planeipassing through'the nose 11an'd the pintle 12, thus the Jfabricengaging elementY 6 lis `sufficiently off Icenter sof'fas -toprevent outward movementl ofy the' same `and `the disengagement of the fabric '19l from the-clasp mechanism. The fabric "13' covering ythe rolled edge of the member 1 further'p'rovides a contacting surfacefortheffabric 19which prevents any 'tendency f of slippage `Vof "the fabric 19 between the jaw 1 6v 'and member 1.

It will be seen thatl those-portions of the fabric 'engaged by the'members `1"'and" 6 la'y flat therebetween Vand are uniformly-gripped thereby. Inasmuch as boththe member 1 Vand the nose piece 11 ofthe fabric-"engagingelement 6 fare of'substantial width-,"each'"of. the threads or strands1 of that portion of lthe fabric engaged byfthe members will beevenly stressed, thereby eliminating undue' wear or other damage to 'the'fabric or material.

While- I `have hereini'described-fand @upon the drawings 'shown -'anfillu'strative embodiment yof the -invention, it /is'fto *be Aunderstood that the invention-is ynot limitedfthereto, but may comprehend "otherlcnstructionsf'arrangementsl ofl parts,l details fand' features without departingfrom thespiritfthe invention. v y

Having thusdiscl'osed the invention, I claim:

member adapted to'fbi postionedibeireathf a piece of fabric, a jaw hinged to said member, said javv comprising a movable part and a fabric engaging part adapted to engage an end of the fabric and grip the same between said engaging part and member, said movable part being provided with a projecting tongue overlying said fabric engaging part and adapted to clamp or release the fabric upon movement thereof, a pintle member for said hinge, said pintle member having its ends bent rearwardly and substantially parallel to said hinge, and a supporting fabric for holding said device in position and for covering the rear portion thereof, said fabric having an end secured to said member and having an intermediate portion folded upon itself and adapted to engage With the ends of said pintle member.

2. A fabric holding device comprising a member adapted to be positioned beneath a piece of fabric and provided near its top with a bent portion, hinge elements provided on said bent portion, a jaw hinged to said hinge elements, said jaw being provided with a fabric engaging part and a movable part adapted to cause said engaging part to engage or disengage the fabric, said movable part having a projecting tongue adapted to overlap said engaging part and be readily grasped by the wearer for attachment or detachment of the device, a pintle member for said hinge elements, said pintle member having its ends bent rearwardly and substantially parallel to said hinge elements, and a supporting fabric for holding said device in position and for covering the rear portion thereof, said fabric having an end secured to said member and having an intermediate portion folded upon itself and adapted to engage with the ends of said pintle member.

3. fabric holding device comprising a member adapted to be positioned beneath a piece of fabric, hinge elements provided on said member, a j avv hinged to said hinge elements, hinge elements provided on said jaw, said jaw being provided With a fabric engaging part hingedly connected to the hinge elements on said jaw, and a movable part adapted to cause said engaging part to enor disengage the fabric, said movable part having a tapered projection overlying said engaging part and adapted to be readily grasped by the wearer for attachment or de` tachment of the device, a pintle member for the hinge elements on said member, and a supporting fabric for holding said device in po sition and for covering the rear portion thereof, said fabric having an end secured to said member and having an intermediate portion folded upon itself and adapted to engage With the ends of said pintle member.

In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

ALEXANDER D. ELLIOTT. 

